I was under the impression that Frederick Douglass was a bit of a pacifist.
Just checked this out on Wikipedia:
Douglass was acquainted with the radical abolitionist John Brown, but disapproved of Brown’s plan to start an armed slave rebellion in the South. Brown visited Douglass’ home two months before he led the raid on the federal armory in Harpers Ferry. After the raid, Douglass fled for a time to Canada, fearing guilt by association and arrest as a co-conspirator. Douglass believed that the attack on federal property would enrage the American public.
The early 20th century black leaders simply wanted to be free to succeed or fail by their efforts. They would have been highly insulted by,the modern Democrat party.